Random Thoughts IV

1. Got home yesterday. Long day at the airport (funny that when I’m volunteering my seat up the wait isn’t so bad because I get a free ticket but if I’m delayed its torture!). Fun trip visiting the fam and my parents. I particularly enjoyed spending 2 nights with my sister and her family. I find I get more out of one-on-one interactions rather than chaotic groups. Its hard to go from being the sole ruler of my roost to being surrounded by people. Does it seem selfish to say that? Oh well, its true.

2. Thanks to my Dad who gave up his bed and slept on the floor so I would have a place to sleep for 2 of the nights home. Thanks Dad! I had a great time at the Turkey Trot and totally want to do it next year but it was very exacting on my body. I had serious pain for 3 days. It hurt to sit up, move, walk, do anything. Having sleep on a comfortable bed was essential to my muscle recovery.

3. I am not good at hiding my emotions. Never have been. If I’m hungry, tired, upset, frustrated, or in pain most people know. I try to keep it inside and ‘be a trooper’ but I can never seem to pull it off. Thank goodness I have understanding family and friends. I suppose this is one benefit of living alone. I can moan and groan all I want to myself!

4. I must express my doubts about the sugar fast. It doesn’t seem to be changing my cravings. I still crave sweets bad and when I eat them they taste just as great as they did before…I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up! If I’m honest I really kind of hate it. I hate dieting in general because I feel it excludes me from a full life experience. Still, I suppose it is a necessary evil.

5. Good news on the Poler front! We had a very successful Black Friday sales weekend and are looking forward to a great Christmas season. There are still bugs to work out but congrats to my the Poler team for a great start! Particular shout out to my brother who has worked so hard on this new company.

6. I am setting up my tree tomorrow! Can’t wait. Its a tight squeeze with my new sofa but I will make it work.

7. Speaking of new furniture I made one black friday purchase- a new ottoman for my main room. Now I have one for each sofa. Isn’t it pretty and only $73! Thank you Walmart! (Yes, I am a Walmart shopper. In fact, I think they get a bum rap. They have reasonable insurance for their employees, livable wages and their products are in general good quality. I’ve actually been more impressed with their furniture/decor items than Ikea or Target and really are either of those 2 companies any less of a corporate giant?).

8. It has actually happened, my friends, I don’t have to convince myself to exercise anymore! For literally years it was a chore to get my but out the door. This week I realized I actually want to go and feel remorse when I can’t go. This is particularly true for swimming (which I haven’t done for over a week 😦 ). I really miss it when I can’t do it. I was going to swim on Thursday with my friends but then there ended up being work commitments and I can’t go. The person asked “Do you have to go swim?”. Its honestly like asking if I need to eat lunch. Well, technically I could survive without it but I will miss it!

9. I decided during this trip that I am going to start walking/running once a week from now on. With how difficult my recovery was from the 5k I need to work out those walking muscles more often. Walking is such an easy thing to do while traveling and swimming is very difficult (at least in the winter). Anyone want to be my weekly walking buddy?

10. My friends are going to swim the Great Salt Lake through the Winter. They have a group called the Wasatch Front Polar Bear Club. They have already swam in 46 degree water! I think it would be a fun adventure to join with them but my fibromyalgia would be super painful. Its just not worth it for the rush.

11. Don’t get me wrong I’m grateful but having 4 mini-jobs can be stressful. I feel a little stretched each and every way. Especially coming home from a trip is always rough. I worked a lot this trip but it never seems to be quite enough. At least I don’t have to push myself like some of the other people in my company.

I used to think I wanted to be an ambitious business leader but I really am glad to be free from the stress and pressure. I am happy with my little roles and the difference I make. I will be grateful when the routine of Poler is set in stone and when other pending issues are finalized. (I have my employee review next Monday. Here’s to hoping I do well and maybe even get a raise! Haven’t had one in 2 years).

Do you think because I’m not the dynamic business woman or politician I dreamed of as a child I’m a bit of a sell-out? Are we not all sell-outs in one way or another as adults…?

12. Lately I’ve been fascinated with the Revolutionary generation. Last year I read a book called Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts and loved it. Now we are rereading that for my book club. I have also been reading Founding Brothers by Joseph Elis and am enjoying that. It goes into great depth into many things I didn’t know much about such as Washington’s Farewell Address, Benjamin Franklin’s support of abolition, the controversy of Jay’s Treaty.

It also elaborates on topics I did know about such as the friendship/feud between Adams and Jefferson, Jefferson’s strategy as the first party politician, James Madison’s skillful quiet power, Abigail Adams role in her husbands presidential cabinet and more. It is so interesting. As I’ve read I keep coming up with parallels to the issues facing politicians and the similar strategies used to win elections that still exist today. Its amazing how with all that’s changed some things never change.

13. Don’t mean to end on a somber note but I can’t begin to describe how disgusted I am with what’s gone on at Penn State. I was horrified to see people cheering for anyone even remotely involved in this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts should be on the victims, not on football. I love sports but let’s have a bit of perspective people!

14. Finally I am a little sad because I now have 2 months left in my current ward. In January I turn the big 31 and that means I am out of the single adult ward. I can either go to the midsingles or the family ward. Haven’t decided what I will do. Any experiences either way? I’d love to hear them. Our midsingles ward has over 600 people so honestly I’m afraid of getting lost with either choice.

I guess I will just have to be extra vigilant in making friends and being outgoing. (Maybe my new ottoman will help with that!). I’m sincerely sorry to be leaving my ward and particularly my calling. It has been a wonderful sanctuary from a year that has been one of the toughest of my life. I will always be grateful for home and visiting teachers, RS President and bishop who took care of me when I really needed it. Thanks!

15. I wish I could be in Hawaii right now…but that’s pretty much true of every day of my life!

16. Saw 2 movies over the break, Hugo and Muppets Movie. Enjoyed both. Hugo was a work of art in movie form; however, a little slow and I don’t know if I ever bonded to any of the characters. Movies are played as an unmitigated good in the plot and while I enjoy a good movie I don’t know if they are as important as Hugo would have you believe. Still, well worth a viewing. See it in 3D if you can. One of the best uses of 3D I’ve ever seen. It didn’t have the murkiness of most 3D.

The Muppets movie was GREAT!! I loved it. I thought it was funny, I loved the music, and the whole thing made me smile throughout. While I think children will enjoy it I think it is designed for young adults my age. There were tons of references to the Muppets I knew growing up and I found them all charming. I just really loved it.

17. No I did not see Breaking Dawn.

18. Best movies I’ve seen this year- The Help, Midnight in Paris and Harry Potter. Favorite performances so far Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain in The Help, Alan Rickman in Harry Potter, Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemmingway in Midnight in Paris. Best animated movie by far Winnie the Pooh (best soundtrack also)

19. Finally, I went speed dating a couple of weeks ago and actually had a good time. However, I definitely realized that my fear of animals is totally not normal! Btw, if that thing in Ohio with the exotic animals had happened by me I think I’d have a heart attack. There are 911 calls of people saying ‘I’m on the freeway and just saw a lion’. Can you imagine?

20. Do you like the cool new theme for the blog? Got to switch things up every now and then. I am trying to figure out why I got double the hits this same time last year? Tell me blog readers what have I done differently? 🙂

21. One last thing- a couple of weeks ago I gave my phone number out to a boy for the first time in my life. It felt totally cliched but I was proud of myself. He never called but hey its a step in the right direction! Probably sad that it took me to age 30 to do that. Oh well!